I requested this book because I really enjoyed the movie Under the Tuscan Sun. I figured this would be similarly entertaining. I struggled to get into the book, often reading only 10 or 15 pages before I lost interest and put it down. Eventually, about half way through, I gave up. I just didn't connect with the characters.

“…The mess invades our experience at every moment. It is there and it must be allowed in….”

Dara and Austin seem to have the perfect relationship. But as they head into the home stretch before their wedding, Austin discovers that a past betrayal has turned into a disaster that results in their wedding getting canceled. Dara’s grandmother has written an enlightened book called A Great Marriage, but Dara fears there is no hope for her marriage to Austin. She flees to California to be with friends, then helms a renovation project in New Hampshire to find her footing, and gradually opens up to friends and family members about what has happened. Meanwhile Austin goes home to London to be with his father and sister who are very supportive of him in spite of his monumental mistake.

As with her wonderful Women in Sunlight (one of my all-time favorite novels) Frances Mayes’ newest novel, A Great Marriage is full of her gathered wisdom, with poetic language and a strong visual sense, and is a delight to read. A Great Marriage was one of those “can’t put it down” novels, as I was so involved in the characters and their fascinating interactions. The pervasive theme that life is a messy business and that even great marriages are fraught with some measures of pain along with the pleasure is reassuring, and a great message to readers of all ages. Highly recommended to lovers of literary fiction, and family stories.

“To find a form that accommodates the mess, that is the task of the artists now.”

3.5 stars rounded up

Dara is to be married to her London love, Austin, shortly after the opening scene of the novel. However, Austin receives shocking news which results in much turmoil. It took me some time to get into the rhythm of the author’s writing as there were multiple perspectives from many characters both major and minor and sometimes starting out in first person then switching to third in the next paragraph. There were a lot of characters to keep straight but it was interesting to get their viewpoints, once I adapted to the style. The story was interesting and I enjoyed the different settings. I didn’t really connect with any of the characters but overall the novel was a quick read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

Nope I just couldn’t get into.
For starters I feel like book just jumped right to pivotal moments. But to me they weren’t the pivotal moments the author intended as I had read enough to care about the characters yet. And honestly I never got invested in anyone.
Overly romantic in some spots yet the author seems to think writing a romance is not good enough so she throws in sweeping villas, views, globe trotting families to cross over into literature instead of “romance.”
Was happy to see the last page, my feeling of being underwhelmed was then put out if it’s misery.

A Great Marriage by Frances Mayes starts at Dara and Austin's engagement party at her parents' home in April 1995 and ends in December 1995. The writing style was very hard to follow especially at the beginning. The narrative takes place inside the heads of multiple characters and the tense will change from 1st to 3rd and back again in a single paragraph. Sometimes there is a quote at the beginning at a chapter, but not always.

Descriptions are wordy and flowery which can be lovely but it take a long time to get anywhere. It's hard to meander through these relationships when it is clear what will happen and where they will all end up. It was also hard to like two pretty spoiled main characters like Dara and Austin. I did enjoy their friends, especially Mei and Luke, Courtney and Katie, Amit, and the crew at The Palms.

I did love the book cover and how it evokes Millais's iconic painting, Ophelia.

<spoiler>I didn't understand how an architect who was making a good salary in New York City moves to London to raise his child but without the £10,000 annual stipend from Shelley he'd be "living with his dad or in a cramped apartment." How was he affording NYC? Thank goodness for poor Shelley and her forethought. </spoiler>

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. I am required by law to disclose this. #AGreatMarriage #NetGalley #RandomHouse

There was a lot to like about this book - the poetic language, the family at its heart, the DC and NC setting (two of my favorite places!) - but it dragged on a bit too long and had too many extraneous character perspectives that took you out of the main story. However, I would say if you liked her previous work or if you like books by Ann Napolitano (a similar style in my opinion), you would probably still enjoy this one!

A Great Marriage starts off with the engagement dinner of Dara Wilcox and Austin Clarke, but unfortunately, the joy is short lived. Austin receives devastating news that he must share with Dara and when he does, Dara puts a hold on the wedding. Her parents' marriage as well as her grandmother's are Dara's examples of great marriages, and Austin's news derails any chance that they can go forward.

While the story intrigued me, unfortunately, the writing did not. Author Frances Mayes' frequent switch from 1st to 3rd person (and vice versa) became an irritant after a while. Mayes details the tough struggles that both Dara and Austin go through when thrown this "curveball," but her overuse of unnecessary detail muddied an otherwise interesting story.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group -- Ballantine for the electronic ARC of #AGreatMarriage.

A Great Marriage, by Frances Mayes, asks and tries to answer the question of what makes a great marriage. After abruptly cancelling their wedding, the two main characters separately explore the "whys" of their relationship and consider other marriages and relationships among their family and friends. There are many characters and relationships in this book which were sometimes difficult to keep straight. Unlike several books I've read recently where there are no characters to like and support, this book is well-populated with characters many readers will want to find love and happiness. Although I felt the plot bogged down just a bit in the middle, I enjoyed the prose and different settings. Other reviewers noted the tidy ending, and although I agree, I did enjoy it. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing -Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read a digital ARC.

A great marriage is the story of the family, love, loss, and life. Dara and Austin-he a British man visiting nyc-she a southern belle in law school-meet and fall in love. Dara comes from a long line of storied relationships from her grandparents to her parents and expects her marriage to Austin will be no different. However, at the last minute, she mysteriously cancels the engagement and won’t reveal why to her closest friends and family’. Reeling, Austin returns back to London and faces tragedy there. How the two-and their families-cope with the sudden changes in life and love will draw the reader into their world.

Mayes is a master of setting and evokes the atmosphere of the mid 90s. She is able to seamlessly transport the reader between nyc, n Carolina, and London and follow these interwoven lives.

This is not a plot heavy novel, but rather a character-driven slice of life novel. If you want strong characters you can with whom you can engage -read this. If you want an action-packed twisty plot, this is not the read you want!

Thanks to the publisher for providing the arc via NetGalley I. Exchange for an honest review.

This book from the author of Under the Tuscan Sun is a slow burn romance centered on Dara and Austin and a cancelled wedding. The beginning of the book was a bit choppy with many characters being introduced at once. It was difficult to connect to the characters and the story was compelling, but hard to follow at times.

I adored this book. I cannot wait to buy a hardcover copy once it comes out. It was the perfect blend of romance, family drama and friendship. It might be my favorite Frances Mayes!

A Great Marriage by Frances Mayes
Can best be described as vignettes in a family drama filled with love, loss, betrayal, and new beginnings. This women’s fiction is heavy on the family aspect and what a great marriage takes to make it just that.
Set in North Carolina with jaunts to D.C.& London, the theme of family comes to the forefront. With three generations coming together to support the leading lady, Dara Wilcox, as her engagement to Austin Clarke comes to a grinding halt.

In London, an odd obsession leads to the betrayal breaking Dara & Austin apart. By the end, there is a lot of sadness, a lot of tears and a beautiful new beginning rising from the ashes. Austin’s family gathers around him to support his new life in a way only family can. In a turn of vacationing circumstances both families meet with hope, forgiveness and love.

The action and drama are a slow burn. Sometimes the emotions seem a tad off, as the betrayal was premeditated by another party altogether. Austin is a victim by being manipulated by this third party and yet he steps up. While Dara seems unsympathetic until she grows up, which might be the character arc the author was going for? Overall it is a great story, worth sticking it out past Dara’s angst and embarrassment.

Note*I was given an ARC by NetGalley for this honest review.

First off, this cover is weird and doesn't really go with the story. If I'm judging a book by its cover I would probably skip over this one.

Now to the book. This seemed to be a hot mess of a story starting out. I was confused by the story and the changing perspectives. The writing was a mess as in one sentence the POV seemed to change. This almost made me dnf the book. I don't like to be so confused that I need to go back and reread sentences over again. However, the writing cleared up the more I read and the story was actually pretty good. It was more than I expected from the rocky beginning.

Without including spoilers I will say I thought some of the storyline was a bit farfetched and could have been reined in a little.

This book reminded me of romances I read back in the day and I enjoyed the nostalgic aspect if it.

All in all this was a decent read. 3.25 stars.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion which I have given.

A Great Marriage by Frances Mayes tells the story of Dara and Austin as they prepare to marry. They seem to be a good match and deeply in love. Through the storyline, we learn about the difference between a good marriage and a great marriage and we witness a few great marriages. Dara and Austin are estranged for a while and we follow each of their storylines never certain if they will or won't work their way back together. I found the storyline a refreshing change from so many novels where you know that love will conquer all. My only quibble with the book is that different characters float in and out and start telling a story from their perspective and those transitions were sometimes confusing as I was getting into the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of A Great Marriage in exchange for an honest review. This book is available now.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Books and the author, Frances Mayes for the opportunity to read an ARC of A Great Marriage. It is centered around the relationship between Dara Wilcox and Austin Clarke, a young and up and coming couple planning their marriage with the love and support of their families. All is going well until a former friend of Austin's changes everything with unexpected and unwanted news. A Great Marriage is a satisfying read as it goes, although I found it somewhat predictable, and I wasn't really fond of either Dara or Austin. I did enjoy Dara's maternal grandmother Charlotte-she was a unique character and added some color to the novel. A Great Marriage is a fast-paced, easy to read novel about love, family, reconciliation and forgiveness. 3.5 stars.

An unexpected scandal interrupts the wedding plans between two of the characters. The scandal was a bit over the top, the resolution quite unbelievable and rushed. There a million characters and side stories but none of them held my attention. I know we read fiction for the escape from reality but this book required me to suspend belief a little too much for my taste. I suspect true romance fans will find a lot to like here.

What is it that makes up a great marriage? Dara and Austin suddenly split up, breaking their engagement just before their wedding. The back story moves us along as we learn what happened between them and how even great loves sometimes struggle to survive.

I love the strength and kindness of Frances Mayes characters as they discover themselves and learn that the world is not always as it seems. I love the movement between Italy, South Carolina, and London as we glimpse the characters lives and motivations.

At the beginning of the novel, I really struggled with the stream of consciousness writing style. It bounced around so quickly between characters with no context that I had a really hard time understanding whose point of view I was reading. Eventually, the book returned to a more traditional narrative style and I found myself really enjoying the story. It felt a little slow in the middle as both of the main characters were off doing their own things, but I liked the way in which they found their way back to each other eventually.

This is a novel that asks the question "what makes a great marriage?" The story begins as finishing touches are being made for the upcoming marriage of Austin and Dara who are very much in love. It is a story of twists and turns as suddenly the wedding is cancelled and Austin finds himself on an entirely different path. Dara decides to travel and try to figure out what and who she really is. There are a lot of characters and situations in the book. I enjoyed it. The reader has to pay close attention to the story in order to unravel it all. Can Dara and Austin learn from this lesson? A review of this book is hard to keep from creating spoilers. This is a book of strong family and friendships. I would call it an escape read and one you will enjoy.

I wish to thank Net Galley and the publisher Random House – Ballantine Books for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The love of Dara and Austin was perfectly moving along into marriage until a former girlfriend drops a bomb. Everything goes completely off the rails. Austin returns to London to cope with the problem and Dara begins a journey of discovery guided by her psychologist grandmother and by the relationship of her mother and father.
Romance, love and relationships fill the pages with questions and truths. A wonderful story created by the weaving together of thoughts and conversations.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.